The Dauntless open beta has begun

Co-op action RPG Dauntless, the Monster Hunter-style game about tracking and battling deadly Behemoths across an aether-charged wilderness, is now in open beta.   

In Dauntless, players become Slayers, who work together to fight gigantic monsters that are consuming the very essence of the Shattered Isles, the broken, floating realm in which the game takes place. It features a single-player campaign and an "Evergame" mode that extends beyond the story with ongoing challenges and rewards like "Heroic" difficulties and Dire Behemoths, and developer Phoenix Labs said it "will be continually adding content and updates to Dauntless," including new expansions, adventures, and Behemoths. 

We got some hands-on time with Dauntless last year, and found it potentially interesting but not quite up to the asking price. But it's had nine months to develop into a better experience, and more importantly the open beta is free, so there's no risk in giving it a go. Dauntless is available for download at playdauntless.com, and if you find yourself having a good time, supporter packs can be purchased for prices ranging from $35 to $100. 

Phoenix Labs also recently released the Dauntless opening cinematic, a tale of green recruits being thrown (literally) into the harsh, unforgiving wild. (And also a reminder to ensure that your cargo is secure prior to takeoff.)    

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.